Chapter Four

If Vlad been more aware of Jazz's state of mind, and altered appearance, he would not have so readily let Danny see her, but Vlad was over confidant and thought that perhaps seeing her brother would settle Jazz down to a controllable level. He was not lying when he said he loved her, and seeing her brother would undoubtedly make her happy. He felt as though he was completely in control of the situation. Little did he know how much control Jazz had actually wrested from him.

Vlad opened the door to Jazz's room and motioned for Danny to enter. Vlad didn't follow into the room. He walked away, and perhaps it was better for his health that he wasn't immediately available after Danny's visit with his sister.

Danny gasped as he entered the room and looked at his sister. She was sitting on the edge of her bed. Her hair looked like it had been in a fight with a lawn mower, and lost. She was almost bald with tufts sticking out here and there. She looked completely derrainged.

"Jazz?" Danny asked softly as he walked forward.

"Danny," Jazz said as he blinked at him. She looked toward the bathroom door then back at Danny. "Why did you change?" she asked.

"Because I'm more comfortable this way," Danny answered softly as he sat down beside her. He wondered what she was talking about.

"Just wait until Vlad sees me," she told him. "He's going to be very, very upset." She smiled.

"I've come to get you out of here Jazz," Danny told her softly. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I was wrong. I should have tried harder to save you in the beginning."

"But you said you can't rescue me," Jazz said in bewilderment. Danny reached forward and touched Jazz's ragged hair. She smiled at him and he frowned worriedly.

"What happened to your hair?" Danny asked.

Jazz gave him a funny look. "You should know," she answered. "You were there when I did it."

Tears filled Danny's eyes and he stood and walked to the bathroom door. He examined the hair on the counter, then turned back to Jazz.

"Has he hurt you?" Danny asked as he returned to his sister and surveyed her with a grim expression.

Jazz looked at Danny a moment. She looked confused as she grabbed his arm. "Are you really here?" she asked.

Danny sighed as he sat down next to her. "Yes," he answered.

"You're not my imagination?" she said almost excitedly.

"No," Danny answered as he looked into her eyes. Jazz squealed happily and threw her arms around her brother and hugged and hugged and hugged him.

"Oh Danny," She said. "I was so scared you wouldn't come. I knew you would, but I was so scared you wouldn't. Your ghost half has been keeping me company while I waited, but it wasn't really you,"

"Okay," Danny replied as he put his hand on the side of Jazz's head and touched what was left of her hair. Tears spilled from his eyes and he had to clear his throat.

"Why did you cut your hair?" he asked gruffly.

Jazz sighed deeply. "He was trying to turn me into Mom," she answered. My hair was colored and permed. I looked like I stepped out of her college year book. I even had contact lenses the color of her eyes."

Danny did his best to keep himself calm. It was apparent that his sister had a few screws loose by the way she was talking and he already knew Vlad did. "I'm taking you home now," Danny told her gently.

"Good!" Jazz said as she stood. She looked at her cotton pajamas and frowned. "Let me find some clothes first. She rummaged through drawers until she found some jeans and a tee shirt then quickly changed. She smiled at Danny who continued to regard her grimly. He extended his hand to her and she took it with a smile.

"I'm ready," she said as she squeezed his hand. "Let's go home."

Vlad was no where in sight, which was a very good thing considering how Danny was feeling at the moment. He walked warily down the hall, holding tight to Jazz's hand with her slightly behind him, but Vlad never appeared. They made their way downstairs. Sam and Tucker were waiting.

Danny's friends looked at Jazz and their eyes went wide. Danny shook his head and they both clamped their mouths shut.

"Did Vlad come back down?" Danny asked.

"No," Tucker said as he gestured for Danny to look at the wall. Hanging in the Foyer was a large painting of Vlad sitting in a chair with Jazz standing behind him with her hand on his shoulder. Danny blinked once and shook his head. He directed Jazz out the door then looked back and shot a big ectoplasmic blast at the painting, knocking it to the floor.

"Where's Vlad?" Jazz asked as they walked down the steps and down the road. She frowned as she looked up at the house. "He said he'd never let me go."

"Maybe he decided he'd rather not face Danny's wrath." Tucker suggested.

Jazz shook her head as she clung to Danny and looked around. "No." she said. "I know him. He's up to something. There is no way he's going to let me go."

"Maybe he changed his mind," Sam offered

"Don't worry about it Jazz," Danny told his sister. "No matter what he does, he can't stop me from taking you out of here."

"Oh yes he can," Tucker sighed as he pointed to the spot where the now missing Specter Speeder had been parked.

"I told you he wasn't going to just let me go," Jazz said in a panicked tone. She looked around as if she expected Vlad to show up at any moment and take her back to his mansion.

"We'll walk then," Danny said determinedly. "We'll walk until we get to a main road." He looked at Sam.

"I'll call your parents to pick us up," she said as she brandished her cell phone.

"We'll be walking forever," Tucker complained. Everyone ignored him as they started forward.

"He's not going to let me go," Jazz continued to chant as they walked. Danny gave his sister a worried look. The group was just about to cross out of Vlad's property when an invisible wall stopped them.

"See," Jazz said her voice filled with emotion. "He won't let me go."

"Then we'll kick his ass!" Danny said. He held tight to Jazz's hand as they marched back up to Vlad's mansion. Danny went ghost as soon as he was on the doorstep then opened the door.

"Vlad!" He called angrily. "Show yourself you lousy piece of….cheese!"

"Piece of cheese?" Tucker asked.

"I told you," Sam whispered to Tucker. "Cussing leads to the darkside." Tucker gave her an annoyed look and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Vlad!" Danny yelled again then let go of Jazz's hand. Sam came up beside Jazz and took her hand. Danny's sister smiled at Sam and thanked her.

"He's never going to let me go Sam," Jazz whispered fearfully. "And I'm afraid he's going to kill Danny."

"Don't worry about Danny," Sam said trying not to let on how scared she was. Jazz gave Sam a doubtful look.

"Sam," Jazz started. "I appreciate the positive attitude, but trust me. I know Vlad."

"We know Vlad too," Sam said reassuringly. Jazz only shook her head. Then watched as Danny phased himself out of the room.

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Danny found Vlad in his lab. Standing at a table in his human mode. He waited for Vlad to turn around and say something, but he never did, and as much as Danny wanted to attack him, he didn't attack while people's backs were turned.

"Turn off the shield," Danny finally said. "I'm taking Jazz home."

"This is her home now Danny," Vlad replied still not turning around. "You have a choice to make my boy."

"If the choice is taking Jazz home over your dead body," Danny growled angrily. "I have no problem with that."

Vlad chuckled lightly then turned to look at Danny. His expression was bland and bored. "You think you can do that? You think you can kill me?"

"I know I can," Danny answered as he prepared himself for an attack. "And I will if I have to. I'd do anything for Jazz."

"You're such a good and loyal brother," Vlad said smarmily. "So willing to do anything for his older sister's honor."

"Anything," Danny said as he readied to hit Vlad with a blast.

"Would you give your life for her?" Vlad asked. "I mean, if I said I would take an exchange. Would you do it?"

"Is that the choice you were going to offer me?" Danny asked angrily. "When I could just end your existence and be done with it."

"Oh! Bother Daniel," Vlad said in irritation. "Ending my life wouldn't be as easy as you think."

"And it wouldn't be as hard as you think," Danny countered.

"Here are your choices," Vlad started. "Having your sister in my life has, changed me."

Danny folded his arms across his chest. "Oh sure it has. So much so that you want to keep her here against her will, making her unhappy and obviously crazy. Next thing you are going to tell me is that you are in love with her. What you are in love with is the idea of my mother."

"Your mother," Vlad started angrily. "Is an amazing woman, but Jazz well…she's something else." He sighed and shook his head.

"Exactly," Danny said. "Now turn off the shields, give me back the Specter Speeder and let Jazz go!"

"As I was saying," Vlad continued as he cleared his throat. "Having Jazz in my life, changed my focus. For the better I believe you would think. Didn't you notice that your instances of ghosts in Amity Park diminished?"

"That has nothing to do…" Danny started.

"It has everything to do with it!" Vlad yelled as he advanced on Danny. "I will not let you take her."

"You can't keep her!" Danny yelled back.

Vlad calmed himself then smoothed his suit. "Here are my terms. I will let you and Jasmine go. I keep your friends. Would you exchange Tucker for Jazz? How about Sam? Would you give me the love of your life in return for your sister?"

"You're insane!" Danny yelled. "Firstly, I would never give any of my friends lives in exchange for anything. Their lives aren't mine to give. Secondly Sam isn't even my girlfrie…"

"Cut the crap," Vlad interrupted. "I don't have time to stand here and discuss your love life. I'm not giving you a choice. You take Jazz. I take Sam and Tucker."

Danny shook his head. "No!"

"It's full out war then," Vlad said. "You take Jazz and I will make you wish you never set foot in the ghost portal and gained your powers. I will be down your neck so hot and heavy that you'll beg me to take her back."

"I can handle anything you dish out Vlad," Danny hissed. "Anything."

Vlad's eyes glittered angrily. "I've pulled my punches with you thus far boy! I won't be gentle anymore."

"You don't scare me!" Danny countered. He paused a moment. "Why don't you ask Jazz? Give her the choice."

"Because she simply doesn't know what's good for her," Vlad answered. "She's confused. She doesn't know any better."

"Then let her go!" Danny yelled. "Come, look into her eyes and ask her to stay. If she says she won't then let her go! You're hurting her! You say you care for her, but you don't care that your destroying her!"

Vlad paled a little then turned and walked to the door. "All right Danny." He said softly. "As you wish."

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Jazz hid behind Sam as Vlad came down the stairs with Danny close behind. She was squeezing Sam's hand so tight it hurt.

"Jazz," Danny said as he pushed past Vlad. "Vlad wants to talk to you. Just be honest and then we'll leave. He can't hurt you and you're not staying here."

"Okay," Jazz said as she moved from her hiding place behind Sam. Vlad frowned deeply as he took in her altered appearance.

"What did you do to yourself my dear?" Vlad asked as he reached forward. Jazz stepped back and Danny stepped between them.

"I took my identity back!" Jazz hissed as she used Sam as a shield from Vlad.

Vlad closed his eyes for a minute. His shoulders dropped and a look of profound sadness washed across his face. "I know you don't remember everything Dar…Jasmine," he said softly. "But soon you will."

"I hate you!" Jazz growled. "Why can't you understand that? Everything has been an illusion. A sick, disgusting illusion! I don't want to be a part of your delusions! I want to go home! I want to live my life!"

"Jasmine," Vlad said then took a deep breath. "Don't you remember St. Tropez? You're telling me that wasn't real? Remember visiting the orphans in Costa Rica? That wasn't real? What about the little girl in Mexico who is waiting for your promised return?"

"I'm sorry Vlad," Jazz said coldly. "I don't remember anything and I don't believe that was real."

"But it was!" Vlad exclaimed as he moved forward almost desperately. Jazz moved and hid behind Tucker who stared at Vlad with wide worried eyes.

"It wasn't me!" Jazz countered. "It wasn't me. It wasn't real. Let me go! I want to go home!"

"Jasmine. My dear please…," Vlad began then stopped as Jazz gathered together enough courage to walked forward. Vlad stood still and turned his head as if he was expecting another punch.

"Here," Jazz said as she held out her hand. Vlad looked at her a moment then lifted his hand, palm up. Jazz dropped her glittering wedding rings in his palm then looked at him defiantly. Vlad sighed shakily as his hand closed over the rings.

"Your vehicle is in the back gardens. The shield has been disabled," Vlad said his gaze remained locked with Jazz's. Jazz nodded her head then grabbed Tucker and Sam's hands and pulled them with her out of the room and across the house.

Danny stood for a moment then began to follow. "Remember Daniel," Vlad said, his voice filled with bitterness. "War. This is war." Danny didn't respond as he followed his sister and friends out of the house.

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"For not remembering anything," Vlad called as he followed. "You certainly remember your way around well enough." Jazz didn't respond as she opened the French doors that lead to the back garden. The Specter Speeder rested not far away.

Vlad said nothing as he watched everyone climb into the vehicle. He kept his eyes locked on Jazz. She stopped touched Danny's arm and walked over to Vlad one last time.

The man in question stood motionless as she looked angrily into his eyes. "I want you to know," she said stiffly. "That you haven't broken me. I'm sorry for what ever it is you think you've lost. Maybe you need to get some professional help. You'll be getting a letter from my lawyer regarding our annulment. Don't fight it."

Vlad said nothing, he simply watched as Jazz climbed into the Specter Speeder. Danny looked briefly at Vlad then climbed into the driver seat, started the vehicle and sped away.

Vlad watched for a moment then said to no one. "You will come back to me Jazz. Mark my words. Even when you get home amongst your friends and your family, you'll never be able to escape me. Never."

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A/N will be short. Nothing much to say, very little changed in this chapter. The next chapter is my favorite. I want to add a few things to it before I post it.